Yi Tianxing knew that Huang Chengyan's suggestion for him to stay was out of concern. As the village chief of Xuanhuang Village, his life was tied to the fate of many. A noble child must not stand beneath a crumbling wall.
Still, Yi Tianxing had already decided—he would go himself.
Although everyone in Xuanhuang Village cultivated, there weren't many who could be spared. Guarding the village was already stretching Wang Dahu and the others thin. It was thanks to the villagers' courageous stand during the last battle that the village had held its ground.
Moreover, that unknown army nearby made Yi Tianxing quietly vigilant.
The fusion of the Myriad Worlds brought with it countless types of armies—whether from games, movies, TV dramas, novels, biographies, or legends. No one knew where these troops had come from. If they harbored ill intent, it could be a disaster for the village.
His plan was to first scout the nearby area and then try to locate the army, perhaps even seize an opportunity to gain control of it.
Besides, he wanted to personally experience how much this world had changed. What kinds of terrifying beasts and monsters lurked nearby? He wanted to see with his own eyes what this new world had become.
As long as he stayed within the valley, he was confident he could make the journey.
A cultivator must constantly train through hardship to grow and evolve.
"If that's your decision, then this old man can only stay behind and guard the village," Huang Chengyan said with a sigh.
Over the past days, he had carefully observed Yi Tianxing's personality. He knew that once Yi Tianxing made up his mind, he wouldn't change it lightly. Besides, he wasn't venturing far—still within the valley. With Yi Tianxing's capabilities, even if danger appeared, it likely wouldn't be fatal. He believed Yi Tianxing was a man of great fortune.
"Head back. We set off at dawn tomorrow."
With a wave of his hand, Yi Tianxing stepped down from the village wall and returned to his residence.
Back home, he immediately began cultivating.
This time, he intended to fully unblock the last two meridians and complete the full cycle of the Twelve Principal Meridians, thus finishing the second level of the Divine Sea Realm. That would give him greater confidence for tomorrow's journey.
"Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian: This path runs through points like Yongquan, Rangu, Taixi, Dazhong, Shuquan, Zhaohai, Fuliu, Jiaoxin, Zhuyin, Yinggu, Henggu, Dahe... twenty-seven acupoints in total, fifty-four with both sides. This time, I'll clear them in one go."
The Next Morning
At dawn, several people stood under the village gate: Huang Chengyan, Wang Dahu, Jia Yucun, and others.
"Return to your duties and guard the village. This is just a minor training mission. Nothing major," Yi Tianxing said calmly with a wave.
"Don't worry, Lord. We'll protect the village with our lives," Wang Dahu declared, pounding his chest.
After scanning the group, Yi Tianxing turned decisively and strode toward the depths of the valley—the same direction where he had seen the distant firelight last night.
His vitality and energy were at their peak.
Last night, he had fully unblocked the last two meridians, refining away the residual impurities and toxins in those meridian pathways. Now, vast amounts of world essence energy flowed continuously through his meridians and into his Divine Sea, condensing into seven-colored mist that hovered above it.
Each time he activated his cultivation technique, the true qi within him would slowly grow stronger.
With the second layer of the Divine Sea Realm now perfected, the next step would be to break through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and step into the third layer.
The Eight Extraordinary Meridians were even harder to unblock than the principal twelve. Their role was to link the twelve, forming a connected network across the body. Before, the meridians were like isolated rivers, separated by countless blockages. But once the eight were opened, everything would flow freely.
🔹 This is why tales speak of "opening the Ren and Du meridians" and gaining endless power—because once all the meridians are linked, true qi flows naturally and draws on the essence in the meridian pathways to replenish itself. That's the true reason for unending energy.
Unblocking the eight, however, was far more difficult. Their blockages weren't just congenital qi residues, but solidified impurities—as stubborn as stone.
But that was for the future.
For now, Yi Tianxing, having cleared his Twelve Meridians, pressed boldly forward.
This world had become a wilderness, with civilization surviving only in primitive village clusters. Any careless step outside could be fatal.
To reach the valley's depths, one had to pass through a dense forest. Going around via the grasslands would take much longer, so Yi Tianxing chose the most direct route.
Towering ancient trees, rampant weeds, and thick shrubs dominated the forest. Vines stretched from tree to tree—this was an untouched, primeval jungle.
It was filled with hidden dangers, and Yi Tianxing was on high alert.
🗡️ Yi Tianxing's way of moving through the forest? Brute force.
Facing dense underbrush and tangled vines, he didn't dodge—he drew his Tang saber and slashed cleanly through. His powerful body and honed blade cut fast and sharp, leaving only a flash of silver in the air.
Bushes were sliced in two and crushed beneath his feet. He carved a path forward—simple and direct.
⚔️ Better to take the straight path than wind endlessly in circles.
In such a thick forest, detours could get you lost. His straightforward approach—cutting vines, chopping branches, forging a wide, straight road—was actually the most efficient.
Thanks to his enhanced physique, even prolonged chopping barely drained his energy. As soon as it waned, the flowing world essence restored his strength.
Bush? Cut it.Vine? Slice it.Branch? Sever it.
Before long, Yi Tianxing had carved out a path wide enough for four people to walk side by side.
Suddenly—whoosh!
A dead twig from above sprang to life and shot toward his throat like a dart. It was lightning-fast and vicious.
Clang!Reacting instantly, Yi Tianxing reversed his saber and blocked the strike. A dull thud followed—the attacker was knocked away.
It was a gray centipede, nearly a meter long, writhing on the forest floor. Just looking at it made Yi Tianxing's skin crawl.
If it had struck him, he might've died on the spot—it was clearly venomous.
Slash!As the centipede tried to flee, he cut it clean in two. Even its tough shell gave heavy resistance.
Where its corpse landed, the grass withered and the earth blackened.
"Damn, that thing is seriously toxic," Yi Tianxing muttered, now even more aware of the world's dangers.
"But... they say the more poisonous the centipede, the tastier the meat. Cook this one right, and it's a top-tier delicacy."
Without hesitation, he stored the centipede's body—already imagining the meal.
Venomous snakes, wolves, giant mosquitoes the size of fists, and poisonous spiders hiding in the dark—every step of the journey brought danger. Even with Yi Tianxing's constant vigilance, he ended up somewhat disheveled.
Suddenly—
"Ahh! No, I don't want to die! Don't eat me!"
"It's over! These monsters will devour me alive! I'm Prince Fu! Anyone who saves me will be rewarded with gold!"
"Monsters! Man-eating monsters! What is this place? I want to go home!"
"If someone saves me, I swear I'll serve them for life—loyal and obedient!"
Yi Tianxing stopped mid-stride, frowning.
The voices didn't come from the direction of the village he was heading toward—they came from the southwest, not too far away.
"People? And not just one... Why would there be humans here if we haven't reached the other village yet?"
After a moment of thought, he made a decision—with no hesitation, he changed course and ran toward the sounds.